Michigan vs Colorado State Betting Preview
In the next game of our Countdown to Kickoff series, Sportsmemo handicapper JM Sports takes a look at Michigan vs Colorado State on September 3. Michigan captured a Big Ten Championship en route to the College Football Playoff where they lost to Georgia 34-11. Colorado State hopes to turn things around this season after finishing 3-9 last season.
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Saturday, September 3 | College Football Betting Notes |
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Point Spread: | Michigan Wolverines -28 vs Colorado State Rams |
Total: | 58 (Over -110 / Under -110) |
Kickoff: | 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT |
Venue: | Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI |
TV: | ABC |
Michigan vs Colorado State Analysis
These two teams have met just once before and that was back in the 1994 Holiday Bowl where Michigan walked away with a 24-14 win as a nine point favorite.
That score is also a reminder of what almost was last season when Colorado State took on Iowa, in their most recent match-up against a Big 10 team, they went into halftime with the lead against #5 Iowa and lost by that 24-14 score. They were close to an upset against a top-5 team as a 23.5 point dog, but the Ram’s record fell to just 1-12 SU against current B10 teams.
As far as season openers go, these teams tell a tale of two stories, as Michigan has won all 3 of their previous season openers by a hefty margin of 25.7 PPG. The Wolverines are 5-2 SU, 5-1 as a favorite, in their opener since Harbaugh took over (4-3 ATS).
When it comes to home openers, Michigan is 12-1 SU (9-4 ATS) in home openers dating back to 2009, including a 3-0 SU (2-1 ATS) record under Harbaugh when their 1st game of the season is the home opener. Meanwhile, Colorado State is just 1-5 SUATS in their last six season openers, including four straight losses.
High Expectations After Last Season For Michigan
Michigan comes into this season with high hopes after making the CFB Playoffs last season. They return 13 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball.
Cade McNamara looks to continue his dominance, he has thrown for over 3,000 yards in 15 starts with two years of eligibility left, well ahead of the all-time leading passer there, Chad Henne. Hassan Haskins’ loss will take its toll on this Michigan team, but they return their top five receivers and eight of the top nine!
Michigan’s defense returns just four starters, losing five of their top seven tacklers and forcing them to replace the only two players in the Big 10 that had 10+ sacks last season, including Aiden Hutchinson.
Norvell Set to Right Rams Ship
Colorado State returns 12 starters, but they are working under a new head coach, Jay Norvell. Norvell coached at Nevada from 2017-2021 and he brought a good chunk of his team with him to Fort Collins.
He looks to shift this offense from a ground and pound to the air raid style that was ran in Nevada and five offensive transfers from Nevada should help ease the transition.
Colorado State adds 10 potential starters in the transfer portal including a QB, 2 WR’s, 2 OL’s, and a S from Nevada, while adding four other transfers as well.
The Rams do return their leading rusher, but they lose their QB and leading receiver, which as I mention, have been replaced in the portal. The defense does return their top three tacklers but lose four of their next six, including Scott Patchan, who had the 2nd most sacks in the Mountain West last season.
Michigan vs Colorado State Prediction
In the last 3 years (excluding 2020 – COVID), Michigan is 20-1 at home, with the only loss coming against Ohio State.
They are 18-0 over that span as a home favorite (13-5 ATS). A transition like the one Colorado State is looking to make doesn’t happen in a week, especially when that week is against the #8 team in the country.
Prediction: Michigan Wolverines -28
Interested in placing a bet on this Michigan vs Colorado State Week 1 showdown? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 risk-free bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.
Sportsmemo Today | NFL Season Preview
JM Sports joins Dan Neubert and Dr Chuck on Sportsmemo Today to discuss the NFL futures market, and the Week 1 betting lines.
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Meet the Author
Jeff’s hunger for handicapping began at a young age being surrounded by parents that made sports betting a daily routine. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of other Cleveland handicappers like Marc Lawrence, Phil Steele, Ralph Michaels, Ed Meyer and Bryan Leonard, Jeff started his sports betting career working for both Northcoast Sports and Phil Steele Publications learning the intricacies of sports betting and becoming a profitable handicapper. Through out his college years, Jeff’s mathematical and analytical prowess helped him develop a betting strategy that turned sports betting into a profitable venture, where he focuses on the NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball and MLB while showing strong results in the WNBA.
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